Although I do not have a huge sweet tooth; I leave that to my husband, the Christmas holidays always make me think of desserts and what luscious creations I could make to celebrate this festive season. The fantasy of baking with Christmas carols playing in the background helps set the stage for the perfect holiday dessert making.

The songs, the story and the ballet of The Nutcracker seem to typify my fantasy of sugar plums dancing in my head. So I bring you not only a holiday cocktail but a delicious dessert cookbook that brings the Nutcracker to life by weaving the story throughout the wonderful collection of decadent desserts. Linda Hymes showcases sixty-one recipes, each of which are guaranteed holiday classics that range from the simple to the sophisticated. Linda Hymes is a Le Cordon Bleu trained chef and a former professional ballerina. 

1 1/2 oz Level Vodka
1/2 oz Amaretto
3/4 oz White cream de cacao
Garnish: Maraschino cherry

Prepare a martini glass by first dipping it in chocolate and then in crushed almonds and coconut. Mix all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Shake with ice and strain into the prepared martini glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

Now snuggle up in a big cozy chair by the fireplace, sip your cocktail and savory the beautiful pages of Linda Hymes’ magical dessert cookbook that will take you to a place we only visit in our dreams.